It is not looking good for the Wild to resign Marian Gaborik. How about this, Gaborik for Staal plus another player or draft pick. I think Minny would go for it being so thin at the center postion. There would also be a good chance that Gabby would resign, he likes the Eastern Conference.

Just like I wouldn't have traded Staal for Hossa last year, I wouldn't trade Staal for Gaborik this year. Doesn't seem like that solves anything, to me. Staal's younger and less injury-prone and is going to be a beast in his own right.

Gaborik and his $8.5MM plus contract is not smart capology imo. Even if the Wild would do Staal for Gaborik, signing him long term would be damaging when it came to filling out the rest of the roster...

I think we will see the Satan's/Sykora's for a while on Sid and Malkin's wings. Unless they can make a good hockey trade for smaller contracts, like Wideman for Boyes a couple years ago...

I think optimally, Staal and Satan both work out well on their respective lines and we get them both extended during the year. That way we don't have to go fishing for all but one winger next off season assuming Sykora and Fedotenko move on.

Basically Jordan Staal is going to be a better overall hockey player than Marian Gaborik. That being said, Gaborik is the best winger for Crosby in the entire NHL with his speed, hands, and hockey sense. Staal should not and will not be moved for Gaborik.

I also do not believe that Gaborik will recieve 8+ million on the market next year, I believe the pens MAY be able to get him long term for say 7ish. We shall see, I would not be surprised to see him in the black and gold, what with around 15+ million coming off the books and Malkin and Staals increase in cap hit will only be about 7ish million.

I don't think Gaborik's feasible unless they move guys that make $$. With what I think are pretty reasonable estimates for the RFAs - Staal ~$5 million, Talbot ~$1.25 million, Kennedy ~$750,000 - plus a few league minimum guys sprinkled in there to replace guys - Curry, Caputi, Jeffrey, the Pens will have around $8 million to retain or replace Sykora and Satan assuming the cap increases to around $60 million. A lot of assumptions there, but I think they're pretty close to what will be. Technically, they could afford Gaborik, possibly, but they absolutely wouldn't be able to replace Sykora. Gaborik's too risky for that kind of consequence.

A lot can change, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sykora sticks around on another two year deal at a higher salary. Maybe Satan even will too.